Gun.



PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

C. D. LOUTSBNHIZER.

v GUN.

APPLIOATIOH FILED JULY 23, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 i l I SYM A TTOHNE'Y PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

C. D. LOUTSENHIZER.

GUN. AfPLIOATION TILED JULY 23, 19M.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

4 IVENTOR U/ydefl louisanfiz'zer WITNESSES.-

A TTOHN E YS UNITED STATES PATENT Patented June 20, 1905.

FFIQEe GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 792,909, dated June 20, 1905.

Application filed July 23, 1904. Serial No. 217,800.

To 1!. whom 7'1; may concern:

Be it known that I, CLYDE DAVID LoUTsnN- HIZER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cameron, in the county of Clinton and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Sun, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to ordnance, and its object is to provide a gun having improved breech mechanism, with a view to effecting a rapid loading, firing, and sighting. Vhile the parts are simple in construction and arrangement, the operating of the gun is largely automatic, which is a very desirable feature.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, to be more fully described hereinafter and definitely set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is substantially a side elevation of a gun constructed according to my invention, certain parts beingshown in section and broken away, as will appear. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the breech of the gun, certain parts being broken away. This view is upon a somewhat enlarged scale and represents the breech-block as about to be locked. Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of the breech, the same being broken away, as will appear. Fig. 4 is a side elevation substantially similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the breech-block in its locked position. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the breech mechanism. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the breech-block. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the breech, showing the breechblock withdrawn. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through the breech-block and a portion of the breech. Fig. 9 is a cross-section taken substantially on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8 and representing the cooking mechanism looking in the forward direction. Fig. 10 is a section taken substantially on the line 10 10 of Fig. 8 looking in the forward direction. This view represents the releasing mechanism for the firing-pin in the relation which the parts assume when the breech-block is about to be locked; and Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but representing the releasing mechanism when the firingpin is about to be released.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents the base of the gun, the same being preferably ofcireular formand provided above with a vertically-extending conical horn 2, near the base of which there is provided an annular shoulder 3, the said shoulder being provided with an annular groove 4, constitut ing a raceway for balls 5. The horn 2 is formed with a vertical centrally-disposed bore 6, and near the upper extremity the outer face of the horn is provided with a shallow circumferential groove 7. The base 1 may be fixed to a foundation in any suitable manner.

Upon the base 1 there is mounted a carriage 8, the body 9 whereof is of substantially conical form, as indicated, and is provided with a conical bore 10, which receives nicely the aforesaid born 2. The lower face of this body 9 is provided with an annular groove 11, which cooperates with the groove 4, referred to above, in order to form a complete raceway for the balls 5. It will be observed that the entire weight of the carriage and gun is taken upon the balls 5 and that the horn 2 does not make a tight or machine [it with the conical bore 10. The upper extremity of the carriage is formed into a bearing 12, in which are rotatably mounted the trunnions 13 of the gun or barrel 1 L. From this arrangement it is evident that the carriage may be rotated upon a vertical axis and the gun may be retated upon the horizontal axis of the trunnions.

In order to secure the carriage upon the base more effectively, the same is provided with a vertically-depending pintle 15, which makes a loose machine fit in the aforesaid bore 6 of the base.

To facilitate the training of the gun and to enable the carriage to be locked in any position, a heavy set-screw 16 is mounted in a threaded opening in the wall of the carriage, and the inner extremity of this set-screw lies in the aforesaid annular groove 7. This setscrew has an extension 17, constituting a crank, enabling the application of considerable force in order to clamp the carriage against the horn, as will be readily under stood.

Near its lower portion the body 9 is provided with a laterally-projecting bracket 18, which is formed near its middle portion into a boss 19, having an inclined bore therethrough, as shown, in which bore there is rotatably mounted a sleeve 21, which terminates below in a bevel-gear 22. The upper extremity of this sleeve 21 is reduced and threaded, as shown, to receive a collar or nut 23 in order to prevent longitudinal displacement of the sleeve. In this connection it should be observed that the diameter of the sleeve expands to form the bevel-gear 22, from which arrangement it follows that the sleeve cannot be displaced in a general vertical direction. The sleeve 21 has a centrally-disposed threaded bore in which is mounted the threaded extremity of a sighting rod or screw 24, the

same terminating above in an enlarged head, carrying a pin 25, passing through a slot 26, which is formed in a [in 27, located on the side of the barrel 14, adjacent to the breech. The bevel-gear 22 meshes with an actuating bevel-gear 28, the same being carried upon the extremity of a spindle 29, rotatably mounted in an inclined bore at the extremity of the bracket 18, and this spindle 29 terminates above in a hand-wheel 31, which facilitates the rotating of the spindle, as will be readily understood. Evidently, the hand-wheel 31 rotating, as it does, the gear-wheel 22 may operate to elevate or depress the sighting-rod 24, so as to elevate or depress the breech of the gun.

The gun or barrel 11 has preferably a reinforced breech 32, and the bore 33 at this point is counterbored, as shown, to form a cartridge-space 3 1, and to the rear of this cartridge-space 34: there is an enlarged counterbore 35, which constitutes a breech-block chamber. The axis of the chamber 35 is elevated, as shown, so that the lower wall of the chamber is in substantial alinement with the lower wall of the cartridge-chamber. The breech 32 upon its rear face 32 is provided with a rearwardly-projecting rest 36, which is of semicylindrical form, as shown, having a substantially flat upper face 37, in which there is formed a semicylindrical groove or guide 38 fora breech-block 39. This breechhlock is of substantially cylindrical form, as shown, and is retained upon the rest preferably by means of bands or straps 10, which pass about the upper side thereof and are attached to the face 37 near the rear extremity of the rest 36. The interior construction of this breech-block will be more fully described hereinafter.

Upon the forward face of the breech-block the cartridge-extractor L1 is mounted, the same consisting of an undercut plate having substantially the form of a horseshoe, with a tongue 12 adapted to run in a longitudinallydisposed groove 13, which is formed in the guide 38, as shown. This tongue prevents rotation of the extractor when the breech-block is rotating in a manner which will be described hereinafter. It also serves to attach the body of the extractor to a yoke or wing 4+1, which projects into a circumferential groove 15. which is formed in the outer face of the breech block near the forward extremity thereof. From this arrangement evidently the extractor will be retained in position upon the breech-block, will advance and withdraw therewith, but will not rotate with the breechblock.

Near the forward extremity of the breechblock 39 a laterally-projecting wing 16 is formed integral therewith, and this wing constitutes a lock which may occupy a notch 17, corresponding to the form thereof, which notch is formed in the upper face 37 of the rest 36, on the right side thereof, as indicated. At the rear of the notch or recess 17 a shoulder 48 is formed, the rear face 4C9 whereof is preferably inclined, as shown. The width of this lock 46 is substantially the same the notch 47, so that the lock my occupy the notch, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 1, at which time the forward face of the lock will abut against the rear face 32 of the breech, as will be readily understood. hen in this position, the forward extremity of the breech-block will occupy the chamber 35.

Referring again to the extractor 4C1, especially to Fig. 6, it should be stated that the annular edge 50 of the body of the extractor is an are which has its center at the center of the breech-block. From this arrangen'ient it will be seen that although the breech-block may be rotated after the cartridge has been pushed into the chamber the undercut edge of the extractor will continue to grasp the rim or piece 51 of the shell.

The forward portion of the breech-block 39 is preferably of solid form, as shown, so that the breech-block itself will be well adapted to absorb a large portion of the shock incident to the explosion. The rear portion of the breech-block is formed into a chamber 52, which is preferably of cylindrical form, as shown, its rear extremity being closed by a head 53. This head 53 is provided with a guideopening 54, which opening is in alinement with a corresponding opening 55, which passes longitudinally through the forward portion of the breech-block, and these openings constitute a guide for a firing-pin 56. This liring-pin normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 8; but it may be extended so that its forward extremity will project through the forward face of the breech-block in the usual manner. In the forward portion of the chamber 52 a collar 57 is provided, the same being rigidly attached to the firing-pin, which passes through a boss 58 upon the collar on its forward side, and in order to accommodate this boss when the firing-pin is in its foremost po sition the forward face of the chamber 52 is provided with a counterbore 59, as indicated. Behind the collar 59 a helical spring 60 is housed Within the chamber and this spring presses against a fixed head 61 in the chamber, the same being provided with an opening 62, through which the firing-pin passes loosely, as shown. Just to the rear of this head 61 the firing-pin is provided with a laterally-disposed catch 63, the purpose of which will appear more fully hereinafter, and to the rear of this catch 63 the firing-pin is provided with a late rally-disposed linger 64, which is disposed substantially at right angles thereto and extends outwardly through a longitudinally-disposed slot 64 in the lateral wall of the breech-block. The purpose of this linger 64 will be described more fully hereinafter.

Upon the rear face of the head 61 a trigger 65 is attached, as shown, upon a pivot 66 and about this pivot a coiled spring 67 is placed, which constrains the trigger 65 against the side of the firing-pin, as will be readily understood. As illustrated more clearly in Figs. 10 and 11, this trigger 65 extends through a circumferentially-disposed slot 68 in the wall of the breech-block and its extremity projects into the longitudinal groove or guideway 43, referred to above. At a suitable point the groove 43 is provided with a laterally-disposed recess 69, which is adapted to receive the extremity of the trigger 65 in the manner shown in Fig. 11. At this point it may be stated that in withdrawing the breech-block, in order to remove an exploded cartridge, the extremity of the trigger 65 runs freely toward the rear in the groove 43. When the breech-block occupies its forward position and when it is being rotated as described above in order to lock it in position, the extremity of the trigger 65 will move into the recess 69.

Referring to Fig. 11, in which the lock 46 is represented as falling into its notch 47, the trigger 65 is represented as occupying the bottom of the recess 69, and as the rotating movement progresses the extremity of the trigger 65 will be displaced by coming into contact with the extremity or the bottom of the recess. In this manner the trigger is moved against the force of the spring and tripped, as it were, so as to release the catch 63, allowing the iiring-pin to be advanced by its spring 60. It should be understood, however, that the release of the trigger would not take place until the lock has substantially seated itself in its notch. From the arrangement described it will now appear that the iiringpin is automatically released upon locking the breech-block in position.

Automatic mechanism is provided for cocking or withdrawing the firing-pin. To this end the upper face 37 of the rest 36 on the same side as the notch 47 is provided with a second notch or recess 70, which is undercut on its forward side to form the inclined face 71, and the forward edge of this recess is chamfered so as to present an upper inclined face 72. When the breech-block is in its closed position, the finger 64 occupies substantially the position in which it is represented in Fig. 4, resting, as shown, upon the inclined face 71. When the breech-block is rotated in the lefthand direction in order to release the lock 46, the inclined face 71 operates upon the finger 64 in such a manner as to force the same rearwardly, as will be readily understood, and when the finger passes over the angle 73, at which the inclined faces 71 and 72 meet, the firing-pin will have been withdrawn sufficiently to bring the catch 63 rearwardly beyond the trigger 65, whereupon the spring 67 throws the trigger into position against the firing-pin under the catch 63. In order to facilitate this mode of operation, the rear face 3 of the catch 63 is preferably inclined, as shown in Fig. 8. The upper inclined face 72 for the recess is provided in order that a suificientmovement of the finger 64 will always result, enabling a desirable clearance between the rear face of the trigger 65 and the forward face of the catch 63. From this arrangement it should be evident that merely rotat- 9 ing the breech-block preparatory to withdrawing same will operate automatically to cock the firing-pin.

In order to facilitate the manipulation of the breeclrblock 39, the same is provided with a radially-projecting handle 74.

While the invention described above is adapted especially for use in connection with guns of light caliber, it is believed that slight modifications in design to meet the more severe strains incident to the use of larger guns would easily adapt the devices to a more extended usefulness. The gun is intended especially for use in the navy, but readily adapts itself to use as a field-gun.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a gun, in combination, a breech-block adapted to move longitudinally in the breech of said gun,'means for locking said breechblock by a rotary movement, a firing-pin carried by said breech-block, means for constraining said firing pin forwardly, a trigger adapted to lock said firing-pin against forward movement, and automatic means for displacing said trigger by a rotary movement of said breechblock to release said firing-pin.

2. In a gun, in combination, a breech-block adapted to slide longitudinally to close the breech of said gun, a firing-pin longitudinally guided in said breech-block and having a lateral projection, a trigger pivoted within said breech-block, and means for maintaining the same against the side of said firing-pin adjacent to said. projection, said gun having a groove into which said trigger projects to control the same.

3. In a gun, in combination, a breech-block, means for guiding the same longitudinally, a firing-pin carried by said breech-block, and a member adapted to engage said firing-pin in a withdrawn position, said guiding means having a groove controlling the operation of said last-named member.

I. In a gun, in combination, a breech-block, a firing-pin guided therein, a trigger mounted within said breech-block and adapted to removably engage said firing-pin, means for guiding said breech-block, said guiding means including a longitudinallydisposed groove, and means for locking said breech-block by a rotary movement, said groove having a lateral recess which may receive said trigger.

5. In agun, in combination, arotary breechblock, having a chamber therein, a firing-pin guided longitudinally in said breech-block, said breech-block having an opening in the wall of said chamber, a trigger pivoted in said chamber and projecting through said opening, said trigger affording means for restraining said firing-pin, and means for displacing said trigger laterally by a rotary movement of said breech-block.

6. In a gun, in combination, a rotary breechblock, a guide therefor, means for locking said breech-block to said guide by a rotary movement, said breech-block having a chamber therein and a circumferential slot in the wall thereof, a trigger pivoted in said chamber and projecting through said slot, and a firingpin guided in said breech-block and adapted to be restrained by said trigger, said guide havinga longitudinally-disposed groove there in, said groove having a lateral recess which may receive said trigger when said breechblock rotates.

7. In a gun, in combination, a breech-block, a guide therefor, said breech-block having a firing-chamber therein, a firing-pin guided through said chamber, a collar attached to said firing-pin and lying within said chamber, a fixed head disposed transversely within said chamber, a spring pressed against said head and constraining said collar and said firingpin forwardly, said firing-pin having a lateral projection, a trigger pivotally attached to said head, means for constraining same against said firing-pin, said chamber having a circumferential slot in the wall thereof through which said trigger projects, said guide having a groove controlling the operation of said trigger, and means for locking said breechblock to said guide.

8. In a gun, in combination, a breech-block, a guide therefor having a longitudinal groove therein, an extractor carried loosely at the forward face of said breeclrblock and extending into said groove, a firing-pin guided longitudinally in said breech-block,a trigger attached to said breech-block and projecting therefrom into said groove, and means whereby said trigger may engage said firing-pin to restrain the same, said groove afiording means for disengaging said trigger.

9. In agun, in combination, a rotary breechblock, a guide therefor having a longitudinally-disposed groove therein, an extractor carried loosely by said breech-block and extended into said groove, a firing-pin guided longitudinally in said breech-block, and a trigger pivotally mounted within said breechblocl: and adapted to restrain said firing-pin, said trigger projecting into said groove, said groove having a lateral recess which may receive said trigger.

10. In a gun in eombination,a rotary breech- .block, a guide therefor, open on lts upper side and presenting a face having an undercut inclined recess, a firing-pin guided longitudinally within said breech-block and having a laterally-disposed finger which may pass into said recess, said breech-block having a slot through which said finger projects, said inclined recess cooperating with said linger to withdraw said firing-pin.

11. In a gun, in combination, a breech having a rest projecting rearwardly therefrom, said rest having a longitudinally-disposed groove in the upper face thereof, a breechblock adapted to slide and rotate in said groove, a firing-pin guided longitudinally within said breech-block and having a finger projecting laterally therefrom, said rest having an undercut recess in the upper face thereof presenting an inclined face cooperating with said finger to withdraw said firing-pin, and means for locking said breech-block by a rotation thereof.

12. In a gun, in combination, a rotary breechblock, a guide therefor having an undercut recess presenting an inclined face, and a firingpin guided longitudinally within said breechblock, the said firing-pin having a finger projecting laterally therefrom and adapted to engage said inclined face, said breech-block having a longitudinally-disposed opening through which said finger projects.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLYDE DAY] I) LOU'JTSENHIZEIL.

\Vitnesses:

CnAs. McCownN, M. A. Comm. 

